The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls
Product Description:
Franny longs for adventure but can't even do a cartwheel. Pru can do a cartwheel but prefers hiding under her quilt making up safety tips. Cat has no use for safety tips but supposedly has ESP. And Ivy has had a seven-year string of bad luck—a Jinx that's about to get a whole lot worse.
The four are thrown together when a pair of mysterious ruby red slippers turn up, along with the fashionably mad Cha-Cha Staccato, who bears a frightening resemblance to a certain wicked witch. . . .
As hilarious as it is original, The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls is an unforgettable take on girlhood, piano recitals, The Wizard of Oz, and the dependable everyday magic of true friendship.
Subjects: Fiction, Fiction dealing with sexuality & relationships, Fiction dealing with specific issues, Science fiction, Women & girls, Juvenile Fiction, Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction, Children: Grades 4-6, Action & Adventure - General, Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic, Juvenile Fiction / Girls & Women, Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic, Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship, Girls & Women, Social Issues - Friendship, (Lyman Frank),, 1856-1919., Baum, L. Frank, Fantasy, Wizard of Oz,
Really really enjoyable
I was searching for a gift for my niece when the cover of this book caught my eye. I picked it up and, well, couldn't put it down. The story, which uses The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a springboard, is about four girls who live on the same street but are in no way friends, although they are thrown together in a fight against the wicked witch Cha Cha Staccato, who will do anything to lay her hands on a certain pair of silver slippers.... The four girls end up in Spoz, then in Spudz, then in Ooze, before their adventures finally bring them back to Gumm Street -- yes, as friends. And with a little something extra besides.
The story moves quickly, with surprises coming at you in every chapter, and is both engaging and humorous in the telling. There are a number of details for adults to pick up on as well: there are also ruby slippers involved in the story as well as silver; the ruby slippers were worn in the movie by Judy Garland; Judy Garland's real name was Frances Gumm and one of the girls is actually named Franny, while all four of them live on Gumm Street. And so on.
It's a lot of fun to read with an eight-year-old -- although most of them, I find, can't wait for their bedtime chapter and finish it on their own!
The Best Book In the World (Atlanta, GA)
The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls is a fantastic book! When I borrowed it from my local library I couldn't put it down. It shows a lot of imagination, friendship, and teamwork. The sequel is yet to be another good one. After I read it, I started to love reading. This book is perfect for anyone who likes books.
The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls
when my mom got the book I thought it was going to be really boring but every time I read it it got so interesting that I couldn't put it down. My mom makes me read 30 min each night so I can get smarter and I'm in love with this book I'm so excited for the second one to come out I hope I'll be the first one to read it. I hope my younger sister will read it it is so,so,so,so good and I hope who ever reads it nex will love it she is a great author I wish I can meet her that is how much I love her book I'm trying to find other books she as written.
She couldn't put it down!
My eldest daughter is seven and we were having a really hard time getting her over the hump of only wanting to read the thin paperback chapter books. This book was the solution because it still had little line drawings every few pages so she didn't "feel" as if she was reading a larger hardback book. This was the transition to other, more substantial, books. And, as she said, "it was the best book EVER Mama!!" (What more endorsement do you need??)
waiting for the Gumm II!~
I read this book to my 5 and 8 year olds, they still ask about it and we are awaiting the sequel! anyone know when that might be out?
